Martin Dimery, the Green Party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the new Frome and East Somerset constituency, is standing down from his role as leader of the Green Party group on Somerset Council in order to focus on the coming General Election campaign.

He will remain on the council, however. Councillor Dave Mansell has been selected as the new group leader.

Councillor Dimery explained his decision: "Last year I stood in the Somerton and Frome by-election. It was an extremely demanding and intense campaign. We achieved a very encouraging result, finishing third- the highest ever by-election vote in the UK by-election by a Green candidate.

"We now have the chance to stand in the exciting new constituency of Frome and East Somerset where there is a larger concentration of Green Party membership and support. If we are to win this seat, we need to be campaigning hard against other, better funded parties."

"Frome is at the heart of the new constituency along with close neighbours, Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

"The constituency covers not only the northeast corner of Somerset council area but also a large southern stretch of the Bath and North East Somerset authority.

Cllr Martin Dimery, image Green Party

Cllr Dimery continued: "It is important to familiarise myself with those issues affecting BANES to ensure proper representation of the whole area.

"Although I'm standing down as Leader of the Green group, I will continue as councillor for Frome West and also chair of the Climate and Place Scrutiny committee."

Dave Mansell, the new Green group leader on Somerset who represents the Upper Tone Ward on Somerset Council, said: "Martin has been a very good and capable leader.

"I will do my best in the role, as part of a group that aims to be a challenging and constructive voice on Somerset Council.

"The current financial crisis means hard and unpleasant decisions are unavoidable, but we should remember that at the heart of the cutbacks is a lack of fair funding to Somerset from government." 

Frome and East Somerset combines parts of the former Somerton and Frome constituency represented by Sarah Dyke, and North East Somerset constituency represented by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Neither are standing in Frome and East Somerset. The General Election is likely to be called before the end of the year.